CompuServe Thread

Whoa, down boy! OK, let me take on some of the questins. RE the Novell model, I don't need to defend this and won't try but I must say my first read of your comments sounds like a whining student to me! <g> Everyone and everything seems to be suspect EXCEPT the student! Novell is testing over 250,000 students this year, the program is doing VERY well by EVERYone's measure that I can talk to, students, employers, dealers and instructors alike. You should understand however that there is a LOT of difference between the Novell objectives with their tests and ours for AutoCAD. They run what are referred to as "adaptive" tests. These are short only about 15 minutes and have only one objective, to VERY accurately determine what "level" of ability you have within the specified objectives covered by that exam. So when you exit you essentially get a pass/fail type of indicator, that's it. This is all adaptive tests CAN give and all they are meant to give. They are VERY accurate, VERY reliable and do what they are intended to do for a CERTIFICATION program. Collect all 7 exam passing scores and you get the certification, otherwise you don't and can redo whichever ones you miss. Now in the case of the Autodesk Certified Testing program we are NOT currrently interested in this "leveling" of individuals as we are not "certifying" anyone. We are interested in providing individuals with a "DIAGNOSTIC" report of how they measure up in 14 different categories of AutoCAD knowledge and skill on the level I exam for instance. I am disapointed to learn that for someone that is taking this exam to task so much you were not aware of this! Have you not taken the exam yourself? Have you not read the flyers and brochures that describe the new program? Did you not visit the exam setup at Autodesk University last year? Specifically to your question about what you get when you leave the electronic (yes Drake delivered) AutoCAD Exam, is a very detailed report of just how you did in each of these categories. There has been a bunch of info on this from Elton and others here in the last month. You end with the comment "Maybe, there needs to be more emphasis on testing at each level within the ATC program and less emphasis on the final testing?", hmmmmm, am I missing something here? Isn't that precisely what we ARE doing? Now it is late as you can see by the time stamp on this, and it is ALWAYS possible that I have missed the point completely, so please clarify if so. In any case, I am outa here for now! Keep those cards and letters coming, ALL is appreciated and valued, especially the critical and the suggestions for improvement. wayne